Expander tool for elastic bands



June 24, 1952 M|NQCK 2,601,547

EXPANDER TOOL FOR ELASTIC BANDS Filed NOV. 15, 1950 INVENTOR.

.Robert M.. Minock 5 v BY F e.- 3 f njm ATTORNEYS Patented June 2 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXPANDER TOOL FOR ELASTIC BANDS Robert M. Minock, Denver, Colo. Application November 13, 1950, Serial No. 195,261

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates --to tools for expanding bands or rings and more particularly a tool for expanding elastic bands or rings in a radial manner.

One of the objects of my invention is to pro duce an improved tool for enlarging expansible bands in order that such can be applied to members having a circumference greater than the normal inner circumference of the band.

A further object is to provide in an elastic band expanding tool, manually operable means for releasing the band from the expanding elements after expansion has been accomplished.

A still further object is to produce a tool for expanding a band, ring or like object, which tool will be provided with a plurality of radially movable elements for performing the expansion in a substantially uniform manner.

Another object is to provide an improved band or ring expanding means which can be operated with a single hand by grasping two handles and moving them toward each other in the same manner as operating pliers.

Yet another object is to provide an elastic band expanding tool which expands the band substantially uniformly by simultaneously operating radially movable elements thereon at more than four points.

A more specific object is to produce an improved tool operable by one hand for uniformly expanding a rubber ring in a quick and easy manner so that-it can be placed on a part of an animal for docking and emasculating purposes, and also to associate with said tool convenient means operable by the thumb of the hand of the operator employed in accomplishing expanding operations of the tool, for releasing the band to allow for its contraction on the animal part.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of a band expanding tool embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing additional details and the band fully expanded;

Figure 3 is a top view of certain operating parts of the tool with portions broken away to illustrate the manner in which said parts cooperate and function;

Figure 4 is -a perspective view of one of the radially movable expanding elements; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rubber band or ring that is to be expanded by the particular tool shown by way of example as embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the tool, as disclosed, is provided with a first annular member A which has a hub portion IE and an outwardly extending flange portion 1 i, the flange and hub portions of this annular member having a plurality of radially extending guide slots l2 on their top surface, all having equal angular spacing. As incorporated in the particular tool there are six slots, but if desired there may be more or even fewer. Consequently, the slots, as shown, will be spaced degrees apart. Within each of these slots is mounted a slidable expanding element E of rectangular cross section so as to prevent rotation. Each of these elements has on its inner end an upstanding expanding finger I 3 integral therewith. Adjacent its other end and extending downwardly from the expanding element is a pin 14.

On the hub l!) of the first annular member A is mounted for rotation a second annular member B in the form of a fiat ring, said ring being arranged to be positioned closely adjacent the bottom surface of the flange portion of the first annular member A. This second annular member B is provided with six curved cam slots I5, there being a slot for each expanding element E. Each of these slots is arranged to receive a pin M of the expanding element and in order that the pin may have anti-friction engagement with the sides of the slot it is provided with a roller l 6, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The cam slots I5 in the second annular mem ber B all have the same curvature and these slots are so arranged that upon a rotation of the second annular member B they cause the expanding elements E to be simultaneously moved inwardly and outwardly, depending upon the direction of rotation of said member B relative to the member A. If the member B having the cam slots is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3 and from the position shown in Figure 3, the expanding elements E1 will all be moved inwardly. When the elements are in their innermost position, as indicated by the dotted lines of Figure l, the pins M on the expanding elements will be at the end of the slot which is adjacent the innered'ge of the member B. If the annular member 13 should be rotated in the direction opposite from the arrow when the expanding elements are in their innermost position, then-these elements will be moved simultaneously outwardly by the cam slots as these cam slots are moved across the expanding elements and the pins of each expanding element are caused to be acted upon by the edges of the cam slots.

To control the rotation of the member B relative to the member A and bring about an expansion and outward radial movement of the expanding elements E and also an inward radial movement thereof, there are provided handles I! and I8, handle l8 being positioned below handle I1 and having an annular portion [8 fitting around the end of hub Ill and being connected thereto by screws l9, one only being shown in Figure 2. The handle I! which is to control the rotation of the second annular member B having the cam slots, also has an annular portion H which surrounds the hub portion ll] of the member B. This annular portion 11' is arranged to be positioned between the annular portion I8 of handle l8 and the second annular member B. The handle IT has its annular portion connected by a pin 20 to the second annular member B.

When the two annular members A and B are positioned so the expandng elements E are at their innermost position as shown in dotted lines in Figure l, the handles I1 and I8 will be arranged to be in their full open positions which will be slightly greater than the positions shown in Figure 1. The full open position of the handles will, however, not be so great that these handles cannot be grasped between the fingers and the thumb of the hand. From this open position any movement of the handles l1 and I8 toward each other will insure relative rotation between the two annular members A and B and this relative rotation will result in the cam slots causing the expanding elements to be moved outwardly. The extreme outward movement of the expanding elements will be reached when the handles are brought into close proximity to each other.

The first annular member A is enclosed by a cover member 2| which is of annular construction and is provided with an outer down-turned flange 22 extending downwardly to a point opposite the periphery of the second annular member B. The opening in the cover 2| is slightly greater than the diameter of the hole or opening of the first annular member A.

With the above described tool structure it is believed to be obvious that it is capable of expanding an elastic hand, ring or other expansible annular member. The tool, as described, is particularly designed for expanding rubber-rings such as that shown in Figure 5 and indicated at R. Rubber rings of this type are employed for mountin on tails of animals such as sheep, or upon organs thereof to bring about emasculation. Such rubber rings have an inner opening smaller than the animal part upon which they are to be placed. Therefore, to get the ring on the member it will be necessary to expand it. After the ring is placed upon the member and released, it of course tends to return toward its.

normal size and as a result thereof will apply uniform high pressure upon the animal's part upon which it is placed. This pressure will cut off any circulation of blood beyond the point of mounting of the rubber ring and as a result the part of the animal beyond the ring will atrophy and eventually drop off.

In operating the tool, the rubber ring R. is mounted in surrounding relation to all of the expanding fingers l3 when the expanding elements are moved to their innermost position,

such position being obtained by spreading apart with the fingers preferably cooperating with the 'handle I! and the thumb and heel of the hand cooperating with the handle l8 and such handles moved toward each other. As this is done the expanding elements will be moved outwardly with the result that the ring R. will be expanded to a point where it is approximately the size of the opening 0 in the first annular member A. Because six expanding elements are employed, the ring in its expanded condition will be in the shape of an octagon, thus beginning to approach a circle. In the expanded condition of the ring the tool can be slid onto the part of the animal which is to receive the ring, the part projecting through the opening 0 in the second member. When the ring is expanded the part of the animal will be inserted from the side of the tool on which the ring is positioned in expanded condition.

The ring could be released manually by pushing it off of the fingers R, as by a hand, finger or thumb if such was desired. This, however, requires the use of the second hand and takes time. To permit the ring to be easily and quickly removed from the fingers l3 when the ring is expanded, I have provided a special releasing means which can be operated by the thumb of the same hand which is operating the handles l1 and 18. This releasing means is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and is generally indicated by the letter T. The structure involved comprises an annular dishshaped ring 23, the opening therein being approximately the diameter across the rubber ring when it is fully expanded. The dish-shaped ring 23 is adapted. to normallysit down on the opening in the cover 2| and is provided at its side toward the handle ll with an operating arm 24. By means of this arm the ring is pivotally mounted to the cover by pin 25 extending through ears 21 and 28 upstanding from the cover. The arm is secured to the pin in any well known manner. To insure that the dish-shaped ring is normally in its down position against the cover, a coil spring 28 is associated with the arm 24 and the pivot pin. It will be noted that this spring has coiled ends adjacent the ears 21 and 28 and a central cross extending part which passes beneath the arm 24 and acts upwardly thereon to press the dish-shaped ring downwardly against the cover. The ends of the spring cooperate with the ears to insure that a spring action will be present, lifting up on the arm.

With this band releasing means T, as described, it will be seen, particularly from Figure 2, that when the rubber ring R is fully expanded the parts thereof which are engaged by the fingers will be in overlying relation to the inner edge of the dish-shaped releasing ring 23. Thus, to lift the band releasing means from the fingers, all that will be necessary is to press down on the outer end of the arm 24 and the dish-shaped rin will then be raised upwardly and thereby push off the rubber ring over the ends of the fingers so the ring can contract onto the animal part at the point desired, It will be particularly noted that the arm 2| of the releasing means of the rubber ring extends outwardly in overlying relation to the inner end of the handle I8. Thus, when the thumb and heel portion of the hand which operates the tool moves the handle 18 into close position to the handle ll, the thumb will be in a convenient position for engaging the outer end of the arm 24 to Operate the releasing means.

Since little force will be required to bring about initial expansion of the rubberring, such expansion can be accomplished quickly with small movements of the handles by a particular contour of the cam slots 15. It will be noted from Figure 3 that the cam slots are not on a uniform curve. The end of each slot which is adjacent the inner edge of the annular member B has a steep cam rise for about one-third the length of the cam slot. Thereafter the rise is not as steep. When the steep part of the cam operates upon a pin M of an expanding element, it will move this expanding element a greater distance outwardly for a given angular movement of the rotatable annular member B. For subsequent and similar angular movements of the rotatable member B, the cam rise will be less steep and thus there will be less movement of the expanding elements. By having quick initial expansion of the ring with small handle movements, greater handle movements will be reserved for the final expansion which will require greater gripping forces, thus allowing for the employment of greater leverage ratios at the cam slots.

From the foregoing description of the tool described as embodying my invention, it will be apparent that the whole tool structure is very simple and efiicient in operation. The tool is easily operated, as expansion can be accomplished by moving the handles I1 and I8 toward each other in the same manner as operating pliers. Releasing of the expanded rubber ring from the fingers of the expanding elements is easily and quickly accomplished by the manually operated means which is capable of being operated by the thumb of the same hand which performs the operation of the tool to bring about expansion of the rubber ring.

It will further be noted that the tool is quite thin and thus it is easy to place thetool in the proper place under all conditions, regardless of what part of the animal on which it is desired to mount the rubber ring. One particular feature of my tool, which islvery noteworthy, is that the rubber ring expanded by the tool will be expanded to an octagon shape which will closely simulate a circle. In prior expansion tools of the type disclosed, the ring could be expanded at four points only. This has been found to be very undesirable because it results in much breakage of the rubber rings. Furthermore, the rubber ring has to be expanded to a greater degree, due to the fact that a square or oblon expansion is accomplished and not an expansion closer to a circle. Expanding the ring in the manner 01' a circle, such as the octagon disclosed, also permits the ring to be more conveniently mounted since the animal part can be more easily inserted through the ring. The manner of expansion by the improved tool also insures there will be no sharp angles on the expanded ring which will increase the tendency toward breakage oi the ring.

Being aware of the possibility of modifications in the particular tool described, it is to be understood that I do not desire that the invention embodied therein'be limited in any manner except in accordance with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

=1. A hand operated tool for expanding bands comprising a plurality of radially movable elementshaving parts for engaging the inner part of the band to be expanded, means for slidably mounting the elements for radial movement only, means for engaging the elements and causing them to simultaneously slide radially outwardly, and means carried by the tool for engaging and removing the band from the parts of the radially movable elements when the band is expanded, said two last named means being positioned to be operable by a single hand of a user of the tool.

2. A hand tool for expanding bands comprising a plurality of elements having parts for engaging the inner part of the band to be expanded, means for mounting the elements for radial sliding movement, means including a rotatable member provided with cam means for causing the elements to slide radially outwardly, and handles extending from the mounting means for the elements and from the rotatable member, said handles being sopositioned that both can be operated by a single hand of an operator.

3. A hand tool for expanding bands comprising a plurality of elements having parts for engaging the inner part of the band to be expanded, means for mounting the elements for radial movement, means including a rotatable member for causing the elements to be moved radially outwardly, handles extending from the mounting means for the elements and from the rotatable member, said handles being so positioned that both can be operated by a single hand of an operator, and means carried by the tool for releasing the band from the elements when the band has been expanded, said last named means comprising a part engageable with the band to push it ofi the elements and an operating part engageable by the thumb of the hand employed to grasp the handles and perform the expanding all while the hand is in grasping condition.

4. A tool for expanding bands comprising an annular member, a plurality of elements mounted thereon for radial sliding movement, said elements having equal angular spacing and carrying upstanding band engaging parts, a second annular member provided with like curved cam slots, there being a slot for each element, and means carried by each element for engaging in a slot, said slots having such curvature that upon relative rotating movement of the annular member the elements will have their engaging means so acted upon by the cam slots that the elements will be moved radially outwardly, and means for rotating the annular members relatively to each other. I

.5. A tool for expanding bands comprising an annular member, a plurality of elements mounted thereon for radial sliding movement, said elements having equal angular spacing and carrying band engaging parts, a second annular member provided with like curved cam slots, there being a slot for each element, and means carried by each element for engaging in a slot, said slots having such curvature that upon relative rotating movement of the annular member the elements will be moved radially outwardly, means for rotating the annular members relatively to each other, and means carried by the tool 'for releasing the band when expanded.

6. A tool for expanding bands comprising an annular member, a plurality of elements mounted thereon for radial sliding movement, said elements having equal angular spacing and carrying band engaging parts, a second annular member provided with like curved cam slots, there being a slot for each element, and means carried by each element for engaging in a slot, said slots having such curvature that upon relative rotating movement of the annular member the elements will be moved radially outwardly with the initial movement of the elements being at a greater rate than subsequent movements for a predetermined angular movement of the second annular member, and manually operable means for rotating the annular members relatively to each other.

7. A tool for expanding elastic bands and releasing same for contraction, comprising expanding elements having projections for engaging the inner side of the band, relatively movable means for causing said elements to move outwardly in a direction to expand a band when placed over the projections including two handles capable of being grasped by a single hand and moved toward each other, and means carried by the tool for lifting the band off the projections when in expanded condition and including a part positioned so as to be engaged and moved by the thumb of the same hand which grasps the handles and while the handles are held in a position to expand the band and another part movable by the first part to engage and lift the band.

8. A tool for expanding elastic bands and releasing same for contraction, comprising expanding elements having projections for engaging the inner side of the band, relatively movable means for causing said elements to move outwardly in a direction to expand a band when placed over the projections including two handles capable of being grasped by a single hand and moved toward each other, and means carried by the tool for lifting the band off the projections when in expanded condition and including a part positioned so as to be engaged and moved by the thumb of the same hand which grasps the handles and while the handles are held in a position to expand the band, said last named means also including a pivoted member having portions which will underlie the band when it is expanded, which pivoted member is capable of being swung upwardly when the said part is moved by the thumb.

9. In a tool for expanding rubber rings, an annular member having a hub portion and a flange portion extending therefrom and being provided with radial slots equally spaced angularly, a second annular member mounted on the hub portion for relative rotative movement adjacent the flange portion, said second annular member being provided with curved cam slots equal in number tothe radial slots, expanding elements slidably mounted in the radial slots having band engaging fingers on their inner ends and projections on their other ends for reception in the curved cam slots, said cam slots being so positioned in the second annular member that upon relative oscillating movement on the hub portion the elements can be moved radially outwardly and inwardly, and handles secured to the hub portion and to the second annular member for rotating the first and second annular members relatively to each other.

10. In a tool for expanding rubber rings, an annular member having a hub portion and a flange portion extending therefrom and being provided with radial slots equally spaced angularly, a second annular member mounted on the hub portion for relative rotative movement adjacent the flange portion, said second annular member being provided with curved cam slots equal in number to the radial slots, expanding elements slidably mounted in the radial slots having band engaging fingers on their inner ends and projections on their other ends for reception in the curved cam slots, said cam slots being so positioned in the second annular member that upon relative oscillating movement on the hub portion the elements can be moved radially outwardly and inwardly, handles secured to the hub portion and to the second annular member for rotating the first and second annular members relatively to each other, a cover for the first annular member, and manually operable means carried by the cover for pushing the ring off the fingers.

11. In a tool for expanding rubber rings, an annular member having a hub portion and a flange portion extending therefrom and being provided with radial slots equally spaced angularly, a second annular member mounted on the hub portion for relative rotative movement adjacent the flange portion, said second annular member being provided with curved cam slots equal in number to the radial slots, expanding elements slidably mounted in the radial slots having band engaging fingers on their inner ends and projections on their other ends for reception in the curved cam slots, said cam slots being so positioned in the second annular member that upon relative oscillating movement on the hub portion the elements can be moved radially outwardly and inwardly, handles secured to the hub portion and to the second annular member for rotating the first and second annular members relatively to each other, an annular member pivotally mounted on the tool and being of such size as to permit the elements to expand a band and when so expanded will lie beneath the band thereby providing means for lifting the band off the band engaging fingers of the elements upon an upward swinging movement thereof, and thumb operating means for swinging the annular lifting member upwardly.

12. A tool operable by a single hand of a user for expanding a band and releasing it for contraction comprising a plurality of elements having parts for engaging the inner side of the band,

- means for moving the elements outwardly to perform expanding of the band including two handles operable by a gripping action of a hand, a releasing member mounted on the tool and having a part over which the band will become positioned when expanded, and thumb operable means for moving the releasing member upwardly to push the band off the elements.

13. A tool operable by a single hand of a user for expanding a band and releasing it for contraction comprising a plurality of elements having parts for engaging the inner side of the band, means for moving the elements outwardly to perform expanding of the band including two handles operable by a gripping action of a hand, a pivoted releasing ring mounted on the tool so that the band will become positioned thereover when expanded, and a thumb operable arm adja- 2,601,547 9 10 cent the handles for swinging the releasing ring REFERENCES CITED upwardly to push the band off the elefnenm- The following references are of record in the 14. A hand operable tool for expanding a band file of this patent: and. releasing it for contraction comprising a plurality of elements having parts for engaging the 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS inner side of the band, hand operated means Number Name Date for moving the elements outwardly to perform 680,870 Leu Aug. 20, 1901 expansion of the band, and means carried by 2,086,371 Tear July 6, 19-37 the tool including a part engageable beneath the 2,408,693 Sidebotham Oct. 1, 1946 band when expanded to move and release same 10 and a hand operating part therefor, the hand FOREIGN PATENTS operating part of the releasing means and the Number ffif Date means for moving the elements to perform ex- 5031565 Great Bntam 11, 1939 pansion of the hand all being positioned so as to be operable 'by a single hand of the operator. 15

ROBERT M. MINOCK. 

